Sport
17 June, 2025
Natte move back into top two after 49-goal win
Another offensive masterclass from Natte Bealiba has powered the Swans past Harcourt 95-46 and back into second on the MCDFNL ladder.
Despite the Swans being heavy favourites heading into this match, the Lions held their own to start the match, with the score reading 9-7 after seven minutes.
However, an 8-1 run halfway through the first quarter allowed Natte to surge to a nine-goal advantage at quarter time.
Fresh off scoring a season-high 85 goals against Campbells Creek, Emma Ryan wasted no time in asserting her presence, scoring 18 goals in the first quarter while Shannae Mills converted both of her shots into goals.
The Lions remained competitive to start the second quarter, but the Swans’ defence, anchored by Bella Westbrook and Ellie Martin, made a serious impact late in the term.
Intercepts across the court led Natte to go on an 11-0 run, blowing the margin out to 26 goals at the main break.
Ryan was faultless in the second quarter, scoring an astonishing 27 goals from 30 attempts, collecting several offensive rebounds and even grabbing some impressive inter-cepts.
Mills did a great job feeding the hot hand while adding one goal of her own.
After scoring four in the first quarter, Gemma Papadimos helped Harcourt’s offence scoring rate with six goals in the second period.
While the Lions’ midcourt of Lauren Peeler, Stacey Mitchell and Tamara Farr played well to help their shooters boost their scoring output to 13 goals in the third quarter, nothing could contain the Swans offence.
Natte took an insurmountable 36-goal lead into three-quarter time.
With Harcourt defenders Carly Chaplin and Morgan Yarwood frequently double-teaming Ryan deep in the goal circle, which reduced her to 18 goals, Mills had more openings to hit the scoreboard, netting five times.
Papadimos continued to benefit from the efforts of Peeler, Mitchell and Farr, scoring six goals in the third quarter.
Both teams kept the pedal to the metal in the final 15 minutes of play, with 35 goals in the final quarter as Natte completed their 49-goal victory.
Macy Tatchell and Ashlee McClelland were subbed into the Swans midcourt for their season debuts in A grade and brought some extra energy off the bench, allowing Ryan to finish on 84 goals after scoring 21 in the final period.
Mills added three for the Swans in the fourth quarter while the Lions Papadimos netted two to finish with 18 goals for the game.
